Teammates, former players heaping praise on Vikings' Peterson

Years ago, Browns Hall of Famer Jim Brown was sitting in a small interview room in Berea, Ohio, trying to forearm shiver some sense into a young reporter too caught up in comparing great running backs.

Years ago, Browns Hall of Famer Jim Brown was sitting in a small interview room in Berea, Ohio, trying to forearm shiver some sense into a young reporter too caught up in comparing great running backs.

"Why," said the man generally considered the greatest running back of all time, "would you want to take away from one great running style by trying to compare it to another great running style?"

Because, um, that's kind of what we non-runners without great styles like to do between opening kickoffs.

"You can't make comparisons," Brown said. "A great running style is like a fingerprint or a voice on the phone that you know without having to look at the person's face. You should recognize it and enjoy the greatness without judging it against greatness that came before it or the greatness that will come later on."

Great running styles often can be summed up in one word. Brown was overpowering, like a man among children. Barry Sanders was nimble, like a ballerina in a bowling ball's body. Gale Sayers slashed and O.J. Simpson dashed. Earl Campbell was unbridled while Eric Dickerson was smooth.

The position faded as the NFL shifted to a passing league long ago. But something unusual has happened this season. At a point when all of us thought it was impossible for a running back to lead a rebuilding, one-dimensional throwback team to the brink of the playoffs, along came Adrian Peterson, a guy whose do-it-all style has proven difficult to sum up in one word.

"I'd say 'powerful,'" said quarterback Christian Ponder. "But it's a combination of power and agility. So I don't know."

With 1,898 yards, Peterson stands one monster game from making this a season that would be remembered as the greatest by a running back in NFL history.

With a victory and 208 yards rushing in today's game against the Packers at Mall of America Field, Peterson would break Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, most likely clinch the league's MVP award and, oh yeah, lift the Vikings to a 10-6 record and the NFC's sixth playoff seed.

"I'd be satisfied with both," Peterson said with a smile. "I feel like I have a good chance. I believe it. And in order to accomplish it, you got to believe it."

Since tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee on Christmas Eve a year ago, Peterson has proven the only thing that matters is what he believes is possible.

"There's a reason none of us believed him when he said he would come back better than ever, which he has," said Vikings personnel consultant Paul Wiggin. "The reason is no one could fathom that happening. To anyone. Ever."

Coach Leslie Frazier admits he wasn't sure what to expect.

"Adrian plants his feet and cuts harder than anyone I've ever seen," Frazier said. "Barry (Sanders) was a guy who was always cutting and darting, too. But not as violently. Barry was nimble. Adrian sticks that foot in the ground hard. It made me hold my breath until I saw him do it enough times."

Early in the rehabilitation process, Frazier approached Peterson about the possibility of having to change his running style. The conversation didn't last long.

Rookie left tackle Matt Kalil said, "Nonstop," but then became distracted when told that Texans running back Arian Foster bought his offensive linemen Segways.

"Adrian will take care of us," Kalil said. "Especially if he gets that record. I might get a car."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy wasted no time picking a word to describe Peterson's style. It was fitting for the man who has rushed for 1,243 yards and eight touchdowns on 223 carries (5.6 yards per attempt) in 11 games against the Packers.

"'Attacking,'" McCarthy said. "There's not enough recognition about his vision. His ability to see the second man. In my opinion, the great ones don't only worry about the first guy. The way he attacks the defense, he's extremely unique in that way."